Dispensing container with ratchet type follower and spring biased closure



June 26, 1951 c; DUMONT DISPENSING CONTAINER WITH RATCHET TYPE FOLLOWER AND SPRING BIASED CLOSURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 20, 1948 INVENTOR. [bunks L. Dumon Z ATTDRN EYE June 26, 1951 c. L. DUMONT v DISPENSING CONTAINER WITH RATCHET TYPE FOLLOWER AND SPRING BIASED CLOSURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 20, 1948 m myaamra.

A'ITD R N EYB Patented June 26, 1951 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE DISPENSING CONTAINER WITH RATCHET TYPE FOLLOWER AND SPRING BIASED CLOSURE 3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in dispensing containers that are adapted to dispense liquids, pastes, salves, soap, powders, lubrication or other viscous or semifluid materials.

An object of the invention is to provide a container wherein the contents of the container may be discharged for immediate use, while the unused portion of the contents will be protected from deterioration caused by contact of the air with the unused contents, or any unsanitary conditions that would exist, should the dispensing opening remain open.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container wherein any desired or required amount of the contents may be dispensed by the use of one hand only by a slight downward pressure on the dispensing cap of the container.

With the above and other objects and advantages that will appear during the course of the description of the invention, the invention consists of the novel details of construction, arrangement and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of Figure 2 on the line 33 thereof;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view on the line 4-6 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an elevational view of a modified form of the invention;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of Figure 5;

Figure '7 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section on the line 1-1 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of one form of actuating means for the piston;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional View of another form of actuating means for the piston;

Figure 10 is a. fragmentary sectional view of still anoth r form of actuating means for the piston and Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the actuating means for the piston shown in Figure 7.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 1 to l thereof, the dispensing container embodying the invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 2!].

Any material such as plastic, metal, glass or ceramics, may be used in the construction of the container, depending upon the type, style or chemical analysis of the contents to be dispensed.

The dispensing container comprises a hollow cylindrical body 2! having an open top, the top being out-turned by a vertical tapped flange 22, which is adapted to receive the complementary threaded cap base 23.

The top surface of the base 23 is provided with an enlargement 24 carrying a fulcrum pin 25 on which are mounted for pivotal movement, the depending opposed apertured cars 26 of the cap 21.

The cap base 23 has a central opening 28 in which is positioned the tube 29. The tube 29 has a closed top end 36, and open bottom end 3|.

At the upper end of the tube 29, a substantial flat spring 32 is received in the milled slots 33 in the tube. The spring 32, at one end, is received in the keeper tongue 34 formed on the under surface of the cap 21. At the opposite end, the spring has sliding engagement with the inclined surface 35 on the upper surface of the cap base 23, and arched at 36, the spring bears against the inner surface of the cap 21.

The spring 32 retains the tube in engagement with the cap 21, so that when the cap is pivoted on the pin 25, the tube will travel downwardly in a vertical stroke. By pressing on the cap 21 where the indicia 31 is located thereon, the cap can be moved downward by engagement of the flanged edge 38 of the cap into the depression 39 in the upper surface of the cap base 23.

Before pressure on the cap 21, the dispensing outlet 40 in the cap base 23 will, at its inner end, be in communication with the slot or port 4| in the upper end of the tube within the cap base 23. The outer or dispensing end of the outlet 40 is closed by the closure tongue 42 on the top 21.

The circumferential wall of the tube 29 is threaded as at 43 and this tube passes through the split disc 44, the peripheral edge of which is grooved at 45 to receive the split spring ring 46.

The disc 44 is positioned within the central depression 41 in the piston 48 which is of a size to conform to the size of the hollow container 2|, and is slidably mounted in the depression 41 by fasteners 49 passing through the enlarged slots 49' in the piston 48.

A disc shaped plate 50 covers the disc 44, and. closes the depression 41 in the piston and is fixed to the piston by fasteners 5!. A packing ring 52 is positioned in the groove 53 in the periphery of the piston is and serves to seal the piston in its engagement with the inner-surface of the wall of the container 2|.

The lower end of the tube 29 is milled at several places to provide inlet passages 53 and a 3 split ring 54 on the extreme lower edge of the tube provides a stop for the piston 48.

The mechanical principle used in the cperation of the dispensing container involves the principle of applying pressure to the piston o diaphragm d8 against the contents of the con tainer 2! to force the contents through the inlet passages 53, out of the slot 6! in the tube into and out of the outlet passage 45 in the base cap 23. The only rotation involved in the operation of this device is the rotation that is necessar to move the piston or diaphragm t8 upwardly on the tube 29 to permit the container to be refilled. This rotation is accomplished by the load resisting threads 43 on the tube 29. This. thread is of a ratchet load resisting type, designed to resist heavy axial loads in one direction only. Thus as the tube is forced downwardly by pressure on the cap 2? against the splii floating disc 44, the piston or diaphragm compresses the contents inside the container, forcing the contents upwardly through the tube and, as the pressure on the cap is released, the tube returns to the original position through the action of the spring 32. The split disc M will back on the tube 29 to engage the next threads for subsequent downward strokes as desired.

The amount of the contents dispensed is determined by the pressure on the cap 2": and number of downward strokes of the tube caused by subsequent pressure on the cap 2?.

The disc M, in its engagement with the threads G3, on the tube 29, will have complemem tary threads 55 thereon to match the threads G3, so that positive action will be obtained through the engagement of the threads 53 and 55 at the proper time, to effect the above .described operation.

The downward travel distance of the cap and tube is determined through the lever action oi the fulcrum pin 25, so that the downward travel of the tube 28 is slightly greater than the pitch of the resistance thread 43 on the tube 2s.

The tube 29 extends close enough to the bottom of the container 2! so that, at the end of its downward stroke, it will just reach the bottom of the container. The passages 53 thus allow the contents of the container to enter the tube through its full length of downward travel.

The ring 2- prevents the piston or diaphragm from leaving the end of the tube after the contents have been completely dispensed.

After each downward stroke of the piston, the compression on the contents is relieved so that there is no afterflow from the passage ii]. No wiping is required, and the closure 42 will seal this passage to prevent deterioration of the contents of the container 2!.

In Figures 5 to '7, inclusive, and Figure 11, there is shown a modified form of the invention which comprises the hollow container 60 having cap 6| removably connected thereto through the engagement of the pin 62 with the slot 63, there being a similar pin and slot on'the opposite sides of these members to provide secure fastening of the cap to the container.

The cap Si is provided centrally thereof with a depression Ed in which is mounted the depression member 64', having a depression finger 65 at one end, and a closure lip 65 at the opposite end.

The depression member 64' is provided with depending opposed ears 6? which receive the fulcrum pin 68 which extends through. the depression 84 transversely thereof.

The pin 55 has the arched portion 69 of the spring Hi passing thereover, and end H of the spring Til bears against the inner surface of the member '85, while the end 72 of the spring 18 bears against the upper surface of the cap 6|.

The cap 6!, centrally thereof, is provided with an apertured boss 73 in which is slidably mounted the vertical portion is of the tube 15, the horizontal dispensing portion 16 being mounted in the depression 8 2 with the open end closed by the lip St.

The tube 75, on the portion i6, is provided with a thread 11, similar to thread 43 on the tube 29. A fiat disc 18 engages this thread, and is provided with complementary threads 19 at their points of engagement. The disc is slidably mounted on the upper surface of a piston or diaphragm 89 by means of fasteners 32 passing through enlarged slots 82 in the piston or diaphragm 8i]. A shield 33 having a central opening 34, is sleeved on the tube 55, and placed over the disc '18, retains the disc in position. The shield is retained on the diaphragm 8* by fasteners 85. The disc is held together by the split spring ring 85 lying in the groove 8? in the periphery of the disc sections, so that the action of this form of the invention is similar to that previously described. When member M is depressed by the finger 65, it will move downward on the pin 58, causing the tube to move downward to complete the operation, as previously described.

By spreading the pins 8! within the slots 82. the disc 18 may be expanded so that it can he slid upwardly on the tube without the necessity of screwing it up, as previously described.

In Figure 8, the diaphragm 96 is provided with a tapered depression 9!, in which is mounted a split tapered collet 92. The collet can fioat in the depression and, sleeved on the smooth tube .93, will grip in its lowest position and release in its highest position. A disc-shaped plate 9% secured to the diaphragm 96, over the depression ill by fasteners retaining the collet in the depression.

In Figure 9, the diaphragm m9 is provided with a tapered depression Nil, in which are loosely mounted the balls 192. The balls will en gage the grooves i533 in the tube 8 1 to fix the tube to the diaphragm Hill at their lowest point, and release the tube at their highest point.

In Figure 10, the diaphragm lid is provided with a depression H i, in which a spring H2 is mounted, the ends being received in the slots H3 at the bottom of the depression iii. The tube H4 passing through the central opening H5 in the spring will be gripped on the downward movement, and freed on its upward movement. A disc-shaped plate i it covers the depression I l i, and is secured to the diaphragm Hi3 by fasteners Ill.

In each of the forms previously described, the diaphragm can be slipped back to the full container position by inverting the container, and causing the collet, balls or spring to disengage the tube. These devices can work on straight serrated ratchet screw threads, ball grooves, or other grip or friction principles.

The principle of the invention has been fully described and several forms have been described and illustrated that will accomplish this principle.

It is believed that the invention, including the various forms, will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is to be understood that changes may be made in the details of constructhereof, a tube slidably mounted in the bore of the head having an outlet opening therein positioned to register with the said outlet passage of the head, and having a threaded outer surface, the lower end of said tube opening into the interior of said container, a cap hinged to the upper surface of the head and positioned to engage the end of the tube, said cap having an extension providing a closure for the outer end of the outlet passage of the head, a piston threaded on the tube and positioned in the cavity of the body whereby downward movement of the cap actuates the tube to force the piston downwardly, and means in the piston for coacting with the threads of the tube whereby downward movement of the tube moves the piston downwardly and the piston remains stationary with upward movement of the tube.

2. In a, dispensing container, the combination of which comprises a substantially hollow bodyv having a cylindrical cavity therein, a head having a centrally disposed bore removably mount' a piston threaded on the tube and positioned in the cavity of the body, an internally threaded split disc in the piston positioned to engage the threads of the tube whereby downward movement of the cap actuates the tube to force the piston downwardly and whereby the piston remains stationary with upward movement of the tube, and means resiliently returning the tube and cap to the inoperative position.

3. In a dispensing container, the combination which comprises a substantially hollow body having a cylindrical cavity therein, a head having a centrally disposed bore removably mounted on said body, said head having a laterally disposed outlet passage communicating with the bore and extended to the peripheral surface thereof, a tube slidably mounted in the bore of the head having an outlet opening therein positioned to register with the said outlet passage of the head, and having a threaded outer surface, the lower endof said tube opening into the interior of said container, a cap hinged to the upper surface of the head and positioned to engage the end of the tube, said cap having an extension providing a closure for the outer end of the outlet passage of the head, a piston threaded on the tube and positioned in the cavity of the body, an internally threaded split disc in ed on said body, said head having a laterally v positioned to engage the end of the tube, said cap having an extension providing a closure for the outer end of the outlet passage of the head,

the piston positioned to engage the threads of the tube whereby the downward movement of the cap actuates the tube to force the piston downwardly, and means resiliently returning the tube and cap to the inoperative position, the threads of said tube having inclined upper surfaces whereby the piston is carried downwardly with downward movement of the tube and is released from the tube with upward movement of the tube.

CHARLES L. DUMONT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 922,492 Lindewirth et a1. May 25, 1909 2,356,874 Nageotte Aug. 29, 1944 

